Liberty Jubilee

From The Jungian Aion.

In this lecture given in 1986 at the C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles, Dr. Edinger talks about the ego’s encounter with the Self, which Jung also called the Greater Personality.

Discussing first the nature of the Self as the second center of the psyche (the ego being the first), Edinger then describes the wounding effect that the Self has on the ego at the first encounter. When the ego perseveres and endures the ordeal, scrutinizing the experience in search of its meaning, there is a divine revelation, by which the ego is rewarded with an insight into the transpersonal psyche.

Edinger illustrates the phases of the encounter with the Self by four examples: Jacob and the angel of Yahweh in the thirty-second chapter of Genesis; Arjuna and Krishna in the Baghavad Gita; Paul and Christ in the Book of Acts; and finally Nietzsche and Zarathustra.

Edward Edinger was a prominent Jungian analyst and scholar who significantly contributed to the understanding of Jungian psychology. His work focused on the exploration of the Self, individuation, and the symbolic nature of the psyche.

Edinger emphasized the importance of the integration of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche, a process that Carl Jung described as individuation.

One of Edinger’s key contributions was his exploration of archetypal symbolism and its role in psychological development. He believed that the archetypes, particularly the Self, play a crucial role in guiding individuals toward wholeness.

Edinger often discussed the tension between the ego and the Self, highlighting the transformative journey that occurs when an individual engages with the unconscious through symbols, dreams, and active imagination. Edinger also delved deeply into the concept of the “God-image” in the psyche, discussing how religious and mythological symbols serve as manifestations of the Self.

He explored the relationship between the ego and the Self in the context of spiritual development, emphasizing that the encounter with the numinous—the experience of the divine within the psyche—was central to the process of individuation. In his work, Edinger often referenced key Jungian concepts such as the shadow, anima and animus, the personal and collective unconscious, and the process of psychological integration.

He believed that by understanding and integrating these elements, individuals could achieve a deeper sense of wholeness and meaning in their lives.

Edinger’s contributions continue to influence contemporary Jungian thought, particularly in the areas of mythology, religion, and the interpretation of symbols in psychological practice.